The next day was completely the same routine. Nevaeh didn't leave her room. It wasn't until midnight when the halls had quietened, save for the patrol guards, that her door clicked open and her head peeked out before she took her first step. Her feet padded softly against the floor as she stuck close to the walls of the mansion, occasionally slipping into the shadows whenever a guard passed by.
The action felt nostalgic. She had always snuck out of her home back at Walreece, but then she had Vivian and Arlene. Now, she was by herself and she was determined to find an escape route.
In a bid to avoid being sighted by a guard as he turned the corner, Nevaeh dashed behind a pillar without caution, sending a vase stumbling to the ground and crashing loudly on impact.
"Who's there?" The guard's voice sounded.
Nevaeh's heart raced in her chest. She couldn't be seen! These people would report her every action to their Lord and Zealan might catch on to her plan. She backed further into the wall as if that would prevent the guard from noticing her.
"I heard a crash" another voice sounded
"It came from there" the first guard replied and their footsteps got closer.
Maybe she should step out now and make it less suspicious, she thought to herself but just then, the wall she was leaning against opened with a sweep, swallowing her in and shutting with a silent thud.
"There's no one here" the first guard said staring at the broken vase
"The vase crashed by itself?" the second guard asked and they looked at each other in contemplation "I'll get someone to tidy it up".
Meanwhile, on the other side of the wall, Neveah groaned as she rubbed her sore bottom, her eyes adjusting to the dimness of the room. "What just happened?" She whispered anxiously. The place reeked of blood and death and she couldn't help but cover her nose. The sound of rattling chains from the distance caught her attention. "Just what is this place?" She followed the sound of the chains.
She could make out the figure of a man, the closer she got. His arms hung limply from the thick black chains, his head bowed. Noticing her presence, he lifted his head. From up close, he looked young and fairly good looking had he not been thoroughly beaten. His bloodshot eyes met hers with an immense frown coating his battered features. Nevaeh staggered back.
This was a dungeon.
"Who are you?" the man asked, sizing her up, his voice scratchy from his parched throat. Nevaeh turned on her heels to flee. She knew better than to converse with prisoners, especially those held in such dungeons.
"Wait," he stopped her. "Please," his voice held compelling pain. "Help me"
"I have no business here" she said against her better judgement. "Only high rated criminals are subjected to such dungeons"
"I'm innocent" he beseeched. "I've done nothing wrong!" His arm rattled the chains "If you don't help me, they'll kill me"
Nevaeh knew she should go, but a small curious part of her kept her feet rooted to the spot. The man's words hammered heavy like the truth, but that was not a guarantee. Most criminals would say anything to save their skin, and yet-
"Why are you here?" She indulged him.
"Lord Torres" he breathed, relieved she hadn't run away. "He found my actions treasonous and sentenced me to this dire fate"
Nevaeh listened silently as the man went on, "All I did was try to protect my sister" he added, anger lacing his words.
"What happened?" She urged.
"He wanted my sister for himself. She was already betrothed to another but he wouldn't have it. I pleaded but he took her anyway, claiming she was the key-"
"What key?" Nevaeh asked invested
"I don't know, none of it made sense! I had to rescue her. She's the only family I had left and I promised to keep her safe. But he took her! Days later, she was reported dead. How could she have died!" The man raged as angry tears streamed down his face. "She was always soft spoken but jovial, she wanted very little from life, she was content and he ruined that! I confronted him and I was thrown in here to rot. Tell me, what was my crime?" His head lowered and his shoulders shook.
Neveah found it hard to offer any comforting words. How could Zealan have done this? Was she his next prey?
"If what you say is true, then I'm sorry. But I don't know how to help you"
The man's head snapped up, "Would you help me if there was a way?" Nevaeh didn't have an answer to that "The chains can be removed" he said.
"You want to escape?" She asked "Where would you go? How would you make it past the gates?"
"I didn't come in here without a plan. My only mistake was getting caught. I know a way out and I would head south to Walreece borders. I have friends there"
Nevaeh's words caught in her throat. Walreece. The answer she's been looking for. This man would be her salvation.
"What do I have to do?" She asked
A flicker of surprise passed his gaze, "You'd really help me? Why?"
"You're not the only one who wants to escape" she said flatly "You will guide me to Walreece" the conviction in her voice left no room for negotiation. Recognition dawned on the man's face and with it, came malicious intent that Nevaeh failed to detect.
"Torres' bride" he muttered under his breath.
"What?" She asked.
"You're the Walreece Princess" he said instead "It's an honour to be in your presence. Forgive me for my speaking out of turn earlier"
Nevaeh shook her head "Doesn't matter. What's the plan"
"All you have to do is touch the chains" his voice went soft and Nevaeh felt a compulsion to touch them. Noticing the look of confusion on her face, he quickly added, "They fall apart when touched by someone else. It's why I'm isolated. The chains are.. special. Once I'm free, I'll come find you. And we'll leave by night.
"How could I trust you?" She asked despite her hands already moving to the chains.
His eyes glowed in the darkness as he met her gaze "You don't. You simply weigh your choices"